Apparatus for dispersing liquid material



Feb. 23, 1932. i w. H. LOHMMANN 1,846,884

APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING LIQUID MATERIAL Filed June 3, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESS l/VVE/VTOR A TTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1932.

W. H. LOHMANN APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING LIQUID MATERIAL WITNESS Filed June 3, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1932. wv HTLOHMANN APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING LIQUID MATERIAL Filed June 3, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 WI T/VESS Br 1AM WM ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1932. w. H. LOHMANN APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING LIQUID MATERIAL Filed June 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORIVEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. LOHMANN, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIG-NOR. TO GENERAL CHEMI- CAL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING LIQUID MATERIAL Application filed June 3,

My invention relates to a process for causing speedy solidification of materials which, like aluminum sulfate, are liquid at higher temperatures, but become solid on cooling.

6; The object of the invention is to bring about such solidification not only continuously and speedily and in such a way that the product assumes the form of fine particles, but to accomplish these results without compli- .10 cated or troublesome apparatus or procedure.

Substances like aluminum sulfate, when produced in the customary manner, are easily, while still hot, flowed into pans 1n which, on cooling, the material hardens into slabs which are subsequently ground to the standard market sizes. The suggestion has heretofore been made that by spray cooling, by the use of pressure air or the like, to assistthe dispersion of the hot liquid, the solidification of the material in the form of fine particles could be brought about in a very steam lines), special nozzles, involving troublesome regulation and expense. My inven tion brings about the desired result by the simple expedient of allowing the hot liquid to flow into a constantly revolving atomizer,

revolving at a rate which will not only disperse the material to the desired extent, but will throw it sufficiently far, in the dispersed form, as to cause solidification of each dis persed particle before it falls onto the col lecting surfaces. The invention therefore consists in dispersing or scattering liquids by centrifugal force so applied as to form them into a spray of globules and causing the projected globules to' solidify upon cooling before they reach the floor or other receiving surface. The process is of especial use in the treatment of aluminum sulfate solutions which are thereby converted into a solid product of great uniformity and high yield at a comparatively low expense.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple and inexpensive apparatus for carrying out the process of dispersing 1925. Serial No. 34,600.

central section of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of an apparatus for collecting the solidified particles; Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 55 of Fig. 4:; Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 4 of a modified construction; and Fi 7 is a section on the line 77' of Fig. 6.

eferring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a feeding conduit or pipe through which the solution to be sprayed or dispersed is fed. The lower end of said pipe delivers the solution to the interior of a hollow boss 11 which projects 'upwardly from a cup shaped member 12 having a shaft 13 projecting from its lower face. The shaft 13 may be connected with any suitable driving mechanism such as an electric motor 14 for rotating the disperser at a high rate of speed. The hollow boss 11 is provided adjacent the base thereof, with a plurality of radially extending apertures 15 through which the solution passes from the interior of the boss 11. Suitably secured to the hollow boss 11 to rotate therewith is a dispersing or atomizing plate or disc 16, having its lower face in contacting engagement with a shoulder 17 provided on the boss 11. The lower face of the dispersing disc also contacts, adjacent to its periphery, with the flange of the cup-shaped member 12 and forms with said member a chamber 18 to which the solution is delivered through the apertures 15. The disc 16 is provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting, radially extending blades or vanes 19 extending from the periphery of the disc and terminating a short distance from the exterior of the hollow boss 11, in the pointed or wedge-shaped ends 20. The lower face of the disc 16 is provided with a plurality of apertures 21 which communicate with the chamber 18 and through which the solution from said chamher passes to the annular space between the pointed ends 20 of the blades 19 and the boss 11. A flat circular washer 22 is placed with its central aperture over the hollow boss 11 and is held with its lower face in tight engagement with the upper faces of the blades 19 by a nut 23 screwed on to the reduced threaded end of boss 11.

The operation of the disperser is as follows: The solution to be treated is fed through the pipe 10, passing through the hollow boss 11, and apertures to the chamber 18, from which it passes through apertures 21 to the center of the dispersing disc 16. The rapid rotation of the device causes the solution to be thrown by centrifugal force through the channels formed between the upper and lower faces of the disc 16 and washer 22 respectively and adjacent blades 19, the pointed ends of said blades serving .to break down or scatter the solution as it passes to said channels.

The speed of revolution of the disperser depends on the nature of the liquid to be treated, and in the ease ofhot solution of aluminum sulfate about 5,000 to 10,000 revolutions per minute will produce a satisfactory result. If desired the marginal portion of the plate may be inclined upward to a slight extent to cause the liquid to be proj ected in a like direction. The flat atomizing disc 16 is located at'a sufficient height above the floor or other collecting surface to allow the globules of liquid to cool off sufficiently during their path through the air to enable each of these globules to solidify separately before it reaches the floor or other collecting surface. The power required for the operation of the disc is relatively very slight. The product obtained is of high quality and great uniformity. The entire procedure is sim le, continuous, and altogether uncomplicated In Fig. 4 I have shown a suitable apparatus for the continuous collection of the solidified particles from the atomizer or dis perser and such apparatus consists of a circular table supported forrotation upon a central stub shaft 31, rotatably mounted in a bearing 32, and a plurality of rollers 33 upon which an annular rib or track 34 upon the lower side of said table rests. The rollers 33 have their shafts supported in suitable bearings 35 and the peripheries of said rollers on opposite sides of the axis of the table are preferably inclined oppositely to prevent lateral movement of the table. The under side of the table adjacent to its periphery is provided with gear teeth 36 with which a pinion 37 meshes, said pinion being driven from any suitable source of power to rotate the table slowly and continuously.

The disperser or atomizer is suitably supported above the center of the table 30 within a cylindrical shell 38 of very large diameter, said shell being provided to limit the distance to which the material is thrown and to confine the particles within the area of the collecting surface of the table 30. Fixedly mounted above the table 30 is a suction pipe 39 connected with the suction fan 40, said pipe having its under surface extended as shown in Fig. 5 to form an elongated narrow suction nozzle 41 which terminates closely adjacent to the upper or collecting surface of the table 30. Means are preferably provided for cooling the table 30 and such means may consist of a pipe 42 extending diametrically below the table and having a plurality of spray nozzles-or perforations through which water or other cooling medium is projected against the under side of the table.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 the table 30a is stationary, while the suction pipe 39a and nozzle 41a is rotated, the construction otherwise being the same as shown in Fig. 4. As showninFig. 6 the pipe 39a, having the elongated nozzle 41a formed thereon as shown in Fig. 7, is provided with abranch which extends downwardly through a central aperture of the stationary table 30a. The branch 50 fits rotatably within a vertically extending branch 51 of a suction conduit 52 connected with a suction fan 40a. The suction pipe 39a is rotated by means of a vertical shaft 53 having its upper end secured in any suitable manner to the branch 50, and its lower end provided with a bevel gear 54 with which the pinion 55 secured to shaft 56 engages, suitable bearings 57 and 58 being provided for the shafts 53 and 56 respectively.

In order to prevent leakage the branch suction pipes 50 and 51 are provided with any suitable packing means such as the stufiing boxes 59, 60, and glands 61, 62. Power for rotating the shaft 56 and suction nozzle 41a may be supplied by any suitable source.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 to 6 will be readily understood, the particles of solution projected from the atomizer or disperser are solidified during their travel through the space within shell 38 and the solidified material is distributed over the upper or collecting surface of'the table 30 or 30a, the cylindrical shell 38 serving to prevent the projection of any material beyond the limits of the collecting table. The table is kept cool by the water or other cooling spray to avoid undue heating thereof by the heat given off by the hot solid particles of the material. The rotation of the table or nozzle, as the case may be, will cause all the portions of the collecting surface to be brought into the range of the suction through said nozzle, the fine particles of solidified material being drawn into the nozzle fro-m which they pass to the pump or fan to be delivered thereby to any suitable place for storage or packing.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character set forth a dispersion or atomizing device comprising acup-shaped member having a hollow boss, a disc mounted on said member and defining therewith a chamber, means to supply a material in a molten condition to the interior of said boss, said boss being provided with apertures communicating with said chamber, a plurality of blades secured to said disc, a covering plate mounted on said blades and defining therewith and with said disc a plurality of radially extending channels, said disc being provided adjacent to its center with a plurality of apertures communicating with said chamber, and means to rotate said device at a high rate of speed.

2. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a rotatable atomizing device having means to rotate it at ahigh rate of speed, means to feed material thereto in a molten condition and means to cause said'material to be projected by said device through the surrounding medium, of a pair of elements including a collecting table and a suction nozzle, and means to rotate one of said elements with respect to the other.

3. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a rotatable atomizing device having means to r tate it at a high rate of speed, means to feed material thereto in a molten condition and means to cause said material to be projected by said device through the surrounding medium, of a pair of elements including a collecting table and a suction nozzle, means to rotate one of said elements with respect to the other and a cylindrical shell surrounding said atomizing device to prevent the material from being projected by said device beyond the perimeter of said collecting table.

4. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a rotatable atomizing device having means to rotate it at a high rate of speed, means to feed material thereto in a molten condition and means to cause said material to be projected by said device through the surrounding medium, of a pair of elements including a collecting table and a suction nozzle, means to rotate one of said elements with respect to the other and means to supply a cooling medium to said table.

5. In an apparatus of the character set forth a dispersion or atomizing device comprising a vertical rotatable shaft, a disc mounted upon said shaft, a plurality of radially extending blades mounted upon said disc and forming radially extending channels therebetween, a chamber beneath said disc mounted upon said shaft and communicating with the inner ends of said channels, means for feeding a liquid material to said chamber and means to rotate said shaft at a high rate of speed.

6. In an apparatus of the character set 05 forth a dispersion or atomizing device comprising a vertical rotatable shaft, a disc mounted upon said shaft, said disc being provided with a plurality ofchannels extending radially from adjacent the center of said shaft outwardly, a chamber mounted upon said shaft beneath said channels, a plurality of passageways communicating with said chamber and with the inner ends of said channels, said passageways being spaced uniformly from each other and from the center of said shaft, means for feeding a liquid material to said chamber and means to rotate said shaft at a highrate of speed.

7. In an apparatus of the character set forth the combination of a rotatable atomizingdisc, means for feeding a liquid material to said disc comprising a chamber having a restricted orifice communicating with said disc and means for rotating said disc and revolving said chamber and orifice at the same angular speed.

8. In an apparatus of the character set forth the combination of a rotatable atomizing disc and a cup-shaped member defining a chamber, a revolvable restricted orifice communicating between said chamber and the surface of said disc, means for supplying a liquid material to said chamber which comprises a second revolvable restricted orifice, and means for rotating said disc and revolving said orifices at the same angular speed.

9. In an apparatus of the character set forth the combination of a rotatable atomizing disc, a plurality of blades secured to said disc, a covering plate mounted on said blades and defining therewith and with said disc a plurality of radially extending channels, a cup-shaped member defining with said disc a chamber, a revolvable restricted orifice communicating between said chamber and said channels, means for supplying a liquid material to said chamber which comprises a second revolvable restricted orifice, and means for rotating said disc and revolving said orifices at the same angular speed.

10. An apparatus for projecting a liquid material in globular form and allowing the projected liquid particles to travel through a gaseous medium for a length of time sufiicient to permit the particles to solidify individually, such apparatus including a chamber, an atomizing disc, and a passageway communicating between said chamber and said disc, said passageway being positioned at the inner portion of said disc and chamber, means for rotating said disc and said chamber and means for passing material to said chamber so as to continuously feed material to said atomizing disc.

11. In apparatus for projecting a liquid material in globular form and allowing the projected liquid particles to travel through a gaseous medium for a length of time sufficient to permit the particles to solidify individually, such apparatus including a rotat- 13o ing atomizing disc; means rotatin with the disc for flowlng the liquid material by the influence of centrifugal force through a restricted revolvin aperture and thence to the rotating atomlzing disc, means for dividing said liquid into a lurality of separate streams, and means or projecting said streams into a gaseous medium by the action of centrifugal force.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. LOHMANN. 

